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Top 20 Hikes and Walks in the United Kingdom

Discover
Hikes

United Kingdom

Discover
Hikes

United Kingdom

Hiking in the United Kingdom

A proud land of historic settlements, pastoral countryside, rolling green hills, dramatic coastlines and ancient mountains, the United Kingdom is a hiker’s dream. Walks in the United Kingdom place you amongst a remarkable variety of stunning landscapes, all within a relatively small area. There’s everything from picturesque ambles in verdant dales to challenging expeditions across vast wilderness regions. 

There are awe-inspiring adventures aplenty amongst rocky ridgelines, ancient forests, bonny lochs, mystical tors, towering cliffs and romantic lakes: the list of opportunities is almost endless. There are no less than fifteen national parks to explore on your hikes in the United Kingdom, each with their own unique charm and character.

Get the sea air into your lungs as you discover almost 20,000 miles of famously beautiful coast. Meanwhile, the hillwalking is magnificent. The top of just about every mainland mountain and hill is conquerable by foot. Your efforts are rewarded with a treasure trove of unforgettable summit vistas.

Ben Nevis from Glen Nevis
Expert
06:19
16.2 km
Intermediate
04:54
12.2 km
Intermediate
04:24
14.4 km
Expert
12:40
40.6 km
Expert
02:16
5.69 km
Expert
02:39
6.55 km
Expert
05:05
13.0 km
Intermediate
02:51
9.80 km
Intermediate
02:00
7.60 km
Intermediate
02:44
7.55 km

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  1. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
    1
    1
    06:19
    16.2 km
    2.6 km/h
    1,310 m
    1,310 m
    Expert

    4.7

    (621)

    7,691

    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
    View
  2. 2
    04:54
    12.2 km
    2.5 km/h
    680 m
    690 m
    Intermediate

    4.9

    (378)

    5,289

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View
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  4. 3
    04:24
    14.4 km
    3.3 km/h
    510 m
    510 m
    Intermediate

    4.9

    (464)

    3,031

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
    View
  5. 4
    12:40
    40.6 km
    3.2 km/h
    1,420 m
    1,420 m
    Expert

    4.7

    (254)

    3,772

    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View
  6. 5
    02:16
    5.69 km
    2.5 km/h
    300 m
    300 m
    Expert

    4.9

    (448)

    3,443

    Expert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
    View
  7. 6
    02:39
    6.55 km
    2.5 km/h
    280 m
    280 m
    Expert

    4.9

    (461)

    2,966

    Expert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
    View
  8. 7
    05:05
    13.0 km
    2.6 km/h
    810 m
    810 m
    Expert

    4.9

    (196)

    2,476

    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
    View
  9. 8
    02:51
    9.80 km
    3.4 km/h
    250 m
    250 m
    Intermediate

    4.8

    (301)

    1,492

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
    View
  10. 9
    02:00
    7.60 km
    3.8 km/h
    60 m
    70 m
    Intermediate

    4.9

    (198)

    2,369

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View
  11. 10
    02:44
    7.55 km
    2.8 km/h
    460 m
    460 m
    Intermediate

    4.8

    (219)

    2,583

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
    View

to see 151,751 more hikes in the United Kingdom.

More Information

Hiking amongst spectacular mountains and hills

The sheer range of magnificent upland landscapes you can discover on hikes in the United Kingdom is staggering. Wordsworth, Muir, Wainwright, Burns: the names of the pioneering souls who loved to walk this land have reverberated through history, shaping our modern appreciation for, and drive to conserve, our precious wild places.

The verdant, undulating green hills of Southern England and Wales give way to rougher, rockier pastures the further north you venture. Much of this land makes for gorgeous walking with vibrant wildlife. The only truly mountainous regions here occur in Snowdonia and the Lake District, whilst Northern Ireland’s Mourne Mountains also boast superb hillwalking with a similar feel.

However, in terms of mountain adventure, the best hiking trails in the United Kingdom are those found in the majestic Scottish Highlands. Just a single experience of one of the monstrous behemoths of Torridon, the staggering ramparts of Glencoe, the inselberg peaks of Assynt, the sub-Arctic plateau of the Cairngorms or the world-famous scenery of the Isle of Skye will have you hopelessly addicted to this bonny land.

Almost 20,000 miles of beautiful coast

Surrounded by the sea, it is no wonder many of the finest walks in the United Kingdom are those that explore its wonderful coastline. From England’s shipwreck coves, prehistoric treasures and towering white cliffs to the secret golden beaches, fjord-like lochs and monumental sea stacks of the Scottish Highlands, this is some of the most spectacular coast found anywhere.

The Great British weather

The United Kingdom has a maritime climate that brings changeable weather all year round. One minute you may be basking in bright sunshine, the next zipping up your waterproof. Summers are generally warm, whilst winters are cool and wet. When hiking in the west, you are more likely to feel the effects of fronts coming in off the Atlantic, bringing wind and rain, particularly in the uplands. The east enjoys more settled, drier weather.

Snowfall is common on the mountains in winter, particularly in the Scottish Highlands, where conditions can be extreme. This creates challenges that go beyond basic hiking if you are seeking to get up high. However, the combination of low light and snow on the hills creates a wonderland that can still be incredible on the lower trails.

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Last updated:
May 6, 2024

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